Device for sliding on snow

ABSTRACT

Device for sliding on snow, especially a carving ski, having a base running face, which extends over a front, a central and a rear zone and which is waisted in the longitudinal direction, wherein in the front and/or in the rear zone of the base running face, the latter is overlaid by at least one additional running-face segment which, together with a portion, especially the central portion, of the base running face defines a second running face having a second waist with a substantially larger radius of curvature.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/123,451 (filed on May 6, 2005, and published asU.S. Patent Pub. No. 2005-0212261 A1), which claims priority under 35U.S.C. Section 365(C) to International Application No.PCT/EP2004/014245. Each of the above-referenced applications is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a device for sliding on snow, especially acarving ski, having a base running face, which extends over a front, acentral and a rear zone and which is waisted in the longitudinaldirection.

2. Description of the Related Art

Such devices for sliding on snow are known, for example, from alpineskiing. So-called carving skis, which are characterised by a lineararrangement having a pronounced waist in the longitudinal direction,have in the meantime become successful in such skiing. The advantage ofthe waisted ski is that, when the ski is set on edge, a curve isdescribed along an active radius defined by the waist. The more waisteda ski is, theoretically the tighter the curve that can be travelled.Skis having a more pronounced waist are therefore very manoeuvrable buthave a tendency, when travelling in a straight line, to become veryunsteady and unstable. Conversely, a ski that is not very waisted isdirectionally stable when travelling in a straight line but isdistinctly less manoeuvrable, and consequently more difficult tocontrol, when travelling in a curve.

Although the conventional ski, especially the carving ski, hasrevolutionised travelling in curves in alpine skiing as a result of itswaist, it harbours the disadvantage that the variation of curves ofdifferent radii is possible only for experienced skiers. Especially inthe case of skis having a pronounced waist, even slight edging of theski causes initiation of a curve. With inexperienced skiers, it isprecisely that abrupt change in direction which more frequently leads tofalls with consequences that are not less than serious.

A number of publications that seek to solve the problems mentioned aboveare known from the state of the art.

German Gebrauchsmuster DE 296 05 583 U1, for example, describes aso-called multi-edge ski. This is characterised in that its sliding faceis composed of one or more steps, wherein a steel edge can be attachedat each transition between steps. The greatest advantage of thatmulti-edge ski is that a multiple metal-edge length can be integratedwith the length of the ski remaining the same. It is in addition alsopossible, however, to achieve improved manoeuvrability and ability tostay on course by means of varied waisting of the individual steps ofthe ski. DE '583 thus describes, for example, waisting the lowest stepto a small extent, since in that way it generates good and directionallystable straight-line travel, and then making the upper stepsincreasingly waisted, since they achieve more contact with the snowduring edging and thus, in view of their waisted form, provide bettermanoeuvrability of the ski. A disadvantage of such as arrangement isthat differing edges with differing waists extend over the whole lengthof the ski. This results in the weight being high, in increasedresistance when travelling in a straight line as well as when travellingin a curve and, especially in the case of a two-step construction of theski, again leads to the problem of the abrupt change of direction.Since, depending on the edging, a different edge acts as a guide to thedirection, there is no step-free intermediate region formed in thatarrangement that allows a different travelling radius according to theedging.

German Offenlegungsschrift DE 101 07 905 A1 likewise describes a carvingski which, in order to solve the problems referred to above, is given araised running face of which the outer edges run parallel to the middleof the longitudinal axis of the ski. This new, additional running faceis somewhat narrower than the waist of the original running face. Theski described therein is therefore likewise of multi-step constructionand accordingly has the same advantages already evident from DE '583.That disclosure naturally therefore also has the disadvantages indicatedabove.

The problem underlying the present invention is therefore further todevelop a device for sliding on snow, especially a carving ski, in sucha manner that, despite having good manoeuvrability, has straight-linetravel that is simple to control even at high speeds. A further problemof the present invention is to develop a device for sliding on snow,especially a carving ski, in such a manner that it can execute curveradii that are changeable in a substantially step-free manner.

SUMMARY

This problem is solved by a device for sliding on snow, especially acarving ski, having a base running face that extends across a front, acentral and a rear zone and that is waisted in the longitudinaldirection, wherein in the front and/or in the rear zone of the baserunning face the latter is overlaid by at least one additionalrunning-face segment which, together with a portion, especially thecentral portion, of the base running face defines a second running facehaving a second waist with a substantially larger radius of curvature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention is described by way of an embodimentexample, which is explained in detail with reference to the drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a view from below of an embodiment of the device for slidingon snow according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 show, in a diagrammatic view from below, the formationof an active edge, in respect of the exemplary embodiment according toFIG. 1, as a function of the edging angle;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the running layer, from the front, of asecond embodiment of a ski constructed according to the invention havingrunner-like running-layer inserts, and

FIG. 7 is a lateral-inclined perspective view of a portion of theembodiment according to FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

From the present description, it will be appreciated that as a result ofthe fact that the second waist, having a substantially larger radius ofcurvature, is formed by a portion of the base running face and by atleast one additional running-face segment, a ski is obtained that hastwo waists each of which defines for itself a limiting radius. Comparedwith the publications mentioned at the outset, which have a multi-stepski construction, the device for sliding on snow proposed herein issomewhat lighter. In addition, the use of a commonly exploited baserunning face in the central zone of the device for sliding on snowresults in an optimised running face, since no edges or steparrangements conflict in an impeding manner with the sliding. Theformation of the second waist with a substantially greater radius ofcurvature compared with the waist of the base running face—referred tohereinafter as base waist—results, when the ski is not set on edge, inthe ski having appreciably improved straight-line travel. As the ski isedged, increasingly the second waist engages, there being formed at thatpoint a mixed region. According to the angle at which the ski is set onedge, an active edge is formed that defines the active, that is theeffective, radius of the ski. Thus, in the case of the presentembodiment, a device for sliding on snow, especially a ski or carvingski, is obtained that is not restricted by its fixed lateral geometryand hence suitable to a greater or lesser extent for short or longsweeps, but that is capable of executing a radius that is changeable instep-free manner according to the edging angle. The carving, that istravelling on the edge, of short as well as long sweeps is consequentlypossible. By the successive transition from the second waist to the basewaist—according to the angle at which the ski is set on edge—in additiona “servo effect” is created in respect of the steering of the ski andthe control behaviour. As the ski is set on edge, the result is not anabrupt change of direction but a cautious approach towards a maximumradius of curvature that is limited by the base waist. With this devicefor sliding on snow, therefore, even sudden setting on edge is no longera point of risk, since the change of direction occurs gradually and notabruptly as the ski is set on edge.

Since, as the edging angle increases, the active radius becomescorrespondingly increasingly smaller, it is possible for the usercontinuously to change the curve radius. It can be assumed here thatusually the active radius is maximum at an edging angle of approximately0° and minimum at an edging angle of at least approximately 8-12°,especially 10°. It is naturally also possible for ski models to begraded according to field of use so as to define, for example, a slalomski, the minimum and maximum radius of which is below that of a downhillski, which usually requires especially large curve radii.

The curve behaviour or the straight-line travel of the ski according tothe invention is substantially defined by the formation of the differentwaists. It has proved advantageous to form the waists substantially fromone or more circular arcs constructionally matched with respect to oneanother. Empirical experience has shown that this is a suitable means ofcontrolling the running properties of a device for sliding on snow. Theuse of constant curve radii is also one possibility of creating a waistthat results in especially positive ski properties. Formation of thebase waist and/or the second waist in such a manner that the radius ofcurvature decreases from the front zone and/or from the rear zone to thecentral zone of the device for sliding on snow results in a ski havingpronounced “carver” properties. Such a ski follows that waist exactlywhen set on edge. A combination of the base waist and the second waisttherefore produces a carving ski that is limited by a maximum and by aminimum curve radius, there being formed therebetween a mixed regionthat renders possible execution of almost any desired curve radius.

The result of forming the second waist with a substantially constantradius of curvature is that the ski—when it is not set on edge—travelsexactly in a straight line, the risk of crossing the skis beingminimised. In alpine skiing, such a form of arrangement represents thecombination of a conventional alpine ski with a carving ski, since themanoeuvrability of the carver is combined with the exact and reliablestraight-line travel of the conventional alpine ski. In addition it maybe mentioned that it is naturally also possible to use a plurality ofoverlying running-face segments one above another, so that furtheradditional waists three, four and so on result, which, for example,would additionally improve the edge grip when travelling in a curve.

In order to achieve precise travelling in curves, it is expedient forthe base running face and the running-face segments that overlie it tobe bounded laterally by steel edges or comparable edges, with the resultthat those edges define a corresponding “sidecut”. It is naturallyconceivable, depending on the required sliding properties or the fieldsof use of the ski, to use both different edge forms and materials. Itmay also be expedient for solely the base running face to be bounded bysteel edges and for the overlying running-face segments only to bereinforced by plastics boundaries. It may be mentioned, in addition,here that naturally also the arrangement of track grooves, such as areknown from the state of the art, may be used in order to influence therunning properties of the ski.

A possibility of versatile use of the device for sliding on snow ispresented by the overlying running-face segments being so formed thatthey are fastened to the running-face side of the device for sliding onsnow in such a manner as to be detachable. Such fastening can beeffected by fastening screws that are operable from the top side of theski, by fast-action locking clips or also by tongue-and-grooveconstructions. The advantage of detachable fastening lies in the abilityto exchange the overlying running-face segments as required. Thus, forexample, the fastening of running-face segments to the ski that providethe ski with a more pronounced second waist is conceivable. This wouldmake the ski especially manoeuvrable and create for it a very extrememinimum radius. If, on the other hand, a ski having especially stablestraight-line travel is desired, adaptation in that respect can beeffected by exchanging the overlying running-face segments. The use ofrunning-face segments that create a less-pronounced second waist for theski leads to stable straight-line travel. It is naturally also possiblenot only to adapt the running-face segments to snow conditions that varyin themselves but also to provide running-face segments that, when theyhave become worn, are simply exchanged for new running-face segments.

An advantageous further development is the formation of running-facesegments that each extend in a direction towards the front or the rear,rising increasingly from the base running layer. The ski has a changedresponse behaviour to the edging, depending on the magnitude of thatrise. It is naturally also possible for the overlying running-facesegments to be formed in such a manner that the rise is adjustable. Thiscan be effected, as already mentioned hereinbefore in respect offastening the overlying running-face segments to the body of the ski, bymeans of adjusting screws that are operable from the top of the ski.Naturally, the provision of running-face segments that are differentlyformed in that respect, which the user fastens to his device for slidingon snow, especially his ski, as required, is also conceivable.

It is consequently likewise of advantage to fasten the overlyingrunning-face segments to the ski with resilient elements interposed,especially an elastomeric layer having a shock-absorbing action. Such aresilient bearing arrangement provides shock absorption for the ski andthus increases the controllability and ride comfort. It is naturallyalso possible for such an intermediate layer not only to be formed as aresilient intermediate layer but also to be supplemented bythermoplastic elements that bring about a changed stiffness of the skiaccording to the surrounding temperature.

Referring now to specific embodiments, FIG. 1 is a view from below of adevice for sliding on snow according to the invention, that is, a ski.The ski 1 comprises a front zone 4, a central zone 6 and a rear zone 8.A base running face 10 extends across those three zones (4, 6, 8). Theski 1 shown here is a typical carving ski having a pronounced base waist12. Such a waist 12 allows certain curve radii to be executed by edgingthe ski about its longitudinal axis. In order not to lose the requiredadhesion to the ground and longitudinal steering during travel in acurve, the ski, as is generally known from the state of the art, hassteel edges 17, 17′. In addition, also known from the state of the art,the ski 1 comprises a shovel 5 in the front zone 4 (see FIG. 2).According to the invention, in the front zone 4 and in the rear zone 8the ski 1 shown comprises, in each case, an additional overlyingrunning-face segment 24 and 28, respectively. The running-face segmentis in this instance (see FIG. 2) fastened at the running face side 2 tothe base running face of the ski 1 using fastening means, especiallyscrews. It is clear in FIG. 1 that those overlying running-face segments24, 28 are narrower than the base running face 10. In addition, theradius of curvature of those running-face segments 24, 28 is smaller inthe corresponding region than the radius of curvature of the base waist12 of the base running face 10. In order to ensure good slidingproperties, the overlying running-face segments 24, 28 are so formedthat a tangential transition exists between the base running face 10 inthe central zone 6 of the ski and the overlying running-face segments24, 28.

It can be seen in FIG. 2 that the overlying running-face segments 24, 28rise up from the base running face 10 in the front zone 4 and in therear zone 8. Those rises 26, 26′ allow adaptation of the responsebehaviour of the ski 1. The greater the rise 26, 26′, the more the skihas to be edged in order for the steel edges 17, 27, 29 and 17′, 27′ 29′to act as steering edges, that is, active edges. More detail concerningthe steering behaviour of those edges and the so-called active edge isgiven in FIGS. 3 to 5.

The fastening elements 40, 40′ shown in FIG. 2 allow for the overlyingrunning-face segments 24, 28 to be fastened to the ski 1 so as to bedetachable. It is therefore possible for the overlying running-facesegments 24, 28 to be exchanged and replaced by others in accordancewith the desired behaviour of the ski or surrounding conditions, thatis, straight-line travel, manoeuvrability, temperature conditions etc.It is naturally also possible to provide the ski 1 with an overlyingrunning-face segment 24 only in the front zone 4, if that is desired, orfor that segment 24 to be overlaid with at least one further segment.The same naturally applies also to the rear zone 8. Subdivision of thebase running face 10 into segments at the transition zone 34 or 38(shown in FIG. 1) is furthermore also conceivable, so that, for example,the base running face 10 can be fastened to the ski 1 so as to bedetachable in the central zone 6. This allows for the base running faceto be exchanged, in order possibly to adapt it to altered snowconditions or to carry out reworking of the face.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show the mode of operation of the edge arrangement orrunning face arrangement according to the invention of the ski 1. At anedging angle a of 0°, the second waist 22 of the ski 1 acts as steeringmeans. As can be seen in FIG. 3, that second waist 22 is composed of thebase waist 12 in the central zone 6 of the ski 1 and the second waist 22of the overlying running-face segments 24, 28. At an edging angle α of,for example, 0°, the second waist 22 acts as steering means for the skiand, on account of the very small curvature, brings about stablestraight-line travel.

If, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the edging angle α is increased,that is, the skier edges the ski over the longitudinal axis, the resultis a change in the active edge. At an edging angle a of approximately0°, the active edge is formed by the waist 2. At an edging angle of, forexample, 10° or above, the base waist 12 forms the active edge. As canbe seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, the active edge from FIG. 3, formed by thecentral zone 6 of the base waist 12 and the regions of the waist of theoverlying running-face segments 24, 28 in the front zone 4 and in therear zone 8, has a very much smaller radius of curvature than the activeedge in FIG. 5, which is formed solely by the base waist 12. The resultof this is that, at an edging angle a of at least 10°, a minimum radiuscan be travelled and the ski is therefore curve-oriented.

The mixed region, that is, therefore, the region having an edging angleα between 0° and, for example, 10°, is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4.It can be seen here that the active edge varies according to the edgingangle α. If the edging angle a becomes greater, the active edge in thefront and in the rear zone 4, 8 is increasingly formed by the basewaist. If it becomes smaller, the edge of the overlying running-facesegments 24, 28 in those zones serves as the steering means.Consequently, the ski 1 according to the invention does not, like thatknown from the state of the art, have essentially only one fixed curveradius, but renders possible almost step-free variation of the curveradius within the limiting radii, which are defined by the base waist12, and by the mixed second waist 22 shown in FIG. 3. The ski accordingto the invention is accordingly a device for sliding on snow that, owingto its novel “three-dimensional” running-face formation, issubstantially more versatile, easier to use and easier to control.

In an especially preferred embodiment, which is also claimed asimportant to the invention independently of the construction describedabove, the overlying running-face segments 24, 28 are each ofrunner-like construction, especially in the form of running-face strips61, 62 inserted separately in the base running face. The front zone of aski formed in such a manner is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Those separaterunning-face strips 61, 62 are, in a further embodiment, arranged to bemovable out of the base running face 10 either stepwise or continuously,and especially in such a manner that they extend outwards from the baserunning face 10 approximately in the shape of a wedge towards the front(this applies to the front running-face strips) and towards the rear(this applies to the rear running-face strips).

For that purpose, there may be associated with the running-face stripsadjusting screws 63 by means of which the running-face strips 61, 62 aremovable outwards to a greater or lesser extent beyond the base runningface. In such an arrangement a separate adjusting screw may beassociated with each individual running-face strip, with the result thatthe individual running-face strips can individually be “unscrewed” to agreater or lesser extent from the base running face as desired by theuser. Preferably, however, joint adjusting screws are associated withthe front and rear running-face strips in each case. Corresponding toeach of FIGS. 6 and 7, arranged at the front (the same applying also tothe rear) are two separate running-face strips 61, 62 which extendparallel to each other and which are adjustable either individuallytogether.

Riding tests have shown that it is advantageous when the separaterunning-face strips 61, 62 are movable out by between 0 mm and a maximumof approximately 3.0 mm, especially approximately 2.5 mm, beyond thebase running face 10. Naturally, the “sidedcut” of the overlyingrunning-face segments 61, 62 is not altered by the adjustmentpossibility. Only the so-called “edging angle” can be influenced by thesaid adjusting screws 63, that is, the angle at which the outer edge 29or 29′ of the running face strips 61, 62 acts. In the case of individualadjustment of the running-face strips 61, 62, the edging angle can bedifferently adjusted on the inside and the outside.

In particular, the last-illustrated embodiment also allows the return ofthe running-face strips into the base face in such a manner that theyfinish flush with the base face. It is therefore possible for aconventional running layer to be set by the user.

In FIG. 7, the possibility of adjusting the additionally insertedrunner-like running-face strips 61, 62 relative to the base running face10 is indicated by the double arrows 64, 65. For that purpose, theadjusting screw 63 needs to be turned either to the left or to the rightaccording to the double arrow 66. Corresponding to the first embodiment,the additionally inserted runner-like running-face strips 61, 62 eachhave steel edges 29, 29′ at the outside (see FIG. 6). In FIG. 6, thesupporting of the adjusting screw 63, which can be operated from the topface of the ski, against the ski inner side of the running face strips61, 62, is indicated in each strip by the reference numeral 67.

At this point attention is drawn to the fact that all of the partsdescribed above, alone or in any combination, especially the detailsshown in the drawings, are claimed as being important to the invention.Variations thereof are familiar to the person skilled in the

1. A carving ski or other device for sliding on snow, said devicecomprising: a front zone, a central zone, a rear zone, and a baserunning face having an outer perimeter, said base running face extendingover said front, central and rear zones, and said base running facebeing waisted in the longitudinal direction, wherein in the front and/orin the rear zone of said base running face, said base running face isoverlaid by at least one additional running-face segment having at leasttwo edges generally extending in the longitudinal direction such that atleast portions of both edges of said overlying running-face segment arelocated inward of the outer perimeter, and said overlying running-facesegment(s) is/are each of runner-like construction or are running-facestrips inserted separately in the base running face.
 2. A device forsliding on snow according to claim 1, wherein the separate running-facestrips are arranged to be movable out of the base running face in amanner selected from the group consisting of stepwise, continuously, andin such a manner that they extend outwards from the base running faceapproximately in the shape of a wedge towards the front and towards therear, respectively.